In 2016, I was able to travel to Australia for the first time. One of the highlights of my trip was to hold an adorable koala named Barney. This happened at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland. The Lone Pine Sanctuary has been established for almost 100 years.
One of the features of Lone Pine was to be able to pay extra for the experience of holding a full sized koala while under the supervision of a park supervisor who shared instructions and information about the beautiful creatures while you held them in your arms.
What I remember from the experience was how the koala seemed to hold onto me and seemed very comfortable being held. It did not squirm or really move much at all. It was so gratifying and I continue to display the picture of the moment in our home today.
It made me very fond of koalas and allowed me to learn so much more about them after being there at the Lone Pine Sanctuary and having the encounter.
From now on, things have changed with the Lone Pine Sanctuaries’ policies. After hearing from what sounds like a multitude of guests, the Lone Pine Sanctuary has decided to stop the practice of allowing people to hold the koalas. According to the Lone Pine website, the guests can pay extra to stand close and observe the koalas, but cannot touch them.
Apparently, some think that allowing koalas to be held is “cruel and stressful” for them. Perhaps it was for some of the koalas, but I look back on my experience as a very special time that an adorable koala hugged me and held onto me as I talked to him and pet him for several minutes. I am grateful that I had that experience because it was one of the highlights of my time in Australia. I am disappointed that this will not be allowed for people to do in the future.